| American military personnel have been stationed | | | | drive on the opposite side of the road - just as |
| continuously in Japan since the end of World War | | | | they do in England. While Americans can get |
| II in 1945. While these Americans are mainly | | | | permission to drive in Japan, the country's |
| Marines and Sailors, there are also some Airmen | | | | excellent network of public trains and buses |
| and Soldiers. Most people agree that Japan is a | | | | makes it unnecessary for service members. |
| wonderful place to be stationed, but it is still a | | | | - World War II: For many Americans, Japan will |
| foreign country and Japanese culture is quite | | | | forever be associated with Pearl Harbor and the |
| distinct from American culture. | | | | war in the Pacific. Most young Japanese people, |
| To make the most of your stay in Japan, you | | | | however, think about World War II about as |
| should keep in mind a few things about Japan and | | | | much as we think of the Battle of Gettysburg. |
| Japanese culture so that you get the most from | | | | Japanese young people are uniquely apolitical and |
| your experience. | | | | subject of Japanese aggression in World War II is |
| Here are a few things to keep in mind: | | | | not covered in much depth in the school system. |
| - Shoes: You probably heard this one a million | | | | - Safety: While Japan has rightly enjoyed its |
| times, but it bears repeating. Do not wear your | | | | reputation as an extremely safe country, things |
| shoes into a Japanese person's home. As soon as | | | | have gotten a bit worse over the last 10 years. |
| you step into the home, there should be an area | | | | While street crime in Tokyo is nothing like that of |
| where you see a neat row of shoes remove | | | | a large American city, the idea that you can sleep |
| yours and place them there. | | | | the night in a public park and wake up in the |
| - English: While it's true that the Japanese study | | | | morning with your wallet still in your pocket, might |
| English from an early age, it's equally true that | | | | be more myth than fact these days. |
| they've had little opportunity to practice it. And if | | | | - Food: If the Japanese take one thing seriously, it |
| the truth be told many Japanese are deeply | | | | has to be food. You should do yourself a favor |
| embarrassed that they can't speak English after | | | | while and dive into the local food culture: sashimi, |
| years of study. So try speaking Japanese first | | | | miso soup, nabe, ramen, soba, etc., it's all good |
| (even if it sounds terrible), this will lighten things up | | | | and much, much cheaper than in the states. Try |
| and the Japanese may give their elementary | | | | to steer clear of pizza and KFC chicken and allow |
| English vocabulary a try. | | | | yourself to experience the richness of Japanese |
| - Admiration: The Japanese people, on the whole, | | | | cuisine. |
| are very pro-American and great admirers of | | | | - No comparisons: The best way to enjoy living in |
| American culture, so you have a lot in your favor | | | | Japan is to avoid the temptation to compare |
| before you even open your mouth. Remember | | | | Japan to America; this is the one of the surest |
| that you are an ambassador for the U.S. - any | | | | ways to feel home sick or to unfairly judge |
| poor behavior reflects badly on our country. | | | | Japanese culture. |
| - Driving: You'll quickly observe that the Japanese | | | | |